How to Spend 4 Days in Florence - A Complete Itinerary for Florence

Day 1 | Morning

Uffizi Gallery

Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM

Ticket Price: 6 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-4 Hours

Location: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Florence

Adjacent to the Plaza Mayor, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the best in Italy and even in Europe. It exhibits the private collections of the Medici family, including Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and "Spring", Leonardo da Vinci Qi "Annunciation" and other works. The Uffizi Gallery was originally the official residence of the Medici family. It was built in 1560, and the entire huge palace-style building was not completed until 1581. Since Cosimo I, the Medici family has been keen on art and sponsored many masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, etc., so there are rich works of art by the masters here, and Most of the works of art collected by the Medici family for generations are also placed here. The entire art museum has more than 100,000 exhibits, and the collection is very extensive, covering almost the entire history of art, from ancient Greek sculptures to 18th century Venetian oil paintings. It is divided into more than 90 exhibition halls according to the creation time and creation genre. Among the many exquisite buildings in Florence, the appearance of the Uffizi Gallery is not eye-catching. The white main facade has three arched gates, which are simple and atmospheric. The Arno River flows quietly in front of the gate, which is quite artistic. Located on the second and third floors of the main building of the Uffizi Palace, the second floor is the National Library, which houses many rare documents about the city's history, as well as new exhibitions including paintings by Caravaggio, Reni and Nodi Room, the third floor is the essence of the art gallery. The collection of the Uffizi Gallery is amazing. If you want to see every exhibition hall, one day is not enough, so you can pre-select the artists you are interested in or the works of a certain period and visit them in a focused manner.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: I was stunned by the paintings and sculptures in this museum. From Michaelangelo and Raffaello and da Vinci, you can see the magnificent works of several artists dating back to hundreds of years ago. The lines however can be long on peak times so it’s better to book the tickets in advance if you can!

ChinaMexGirl: Buy your tickets in advance! I heard someone saying they had waited 2 hours before going in! Go early to enjoy viewing everything you can. Definietly worth visiting, and don't forget to take picures of the river while your upstairs, and the dome.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Academy Of Florence Art Gallery nearby is the top choice before you leave Uffizi Gallery and hit the road.

Academy Of Florence Art Gallery

Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Ticket Price: 12.5 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Florence FI

Founded in 1562, the Florence Academy Art Gallery is an affiliated art gallery of the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, famous for Michelangelo's "Statue of David". Florence Academy of Fine Arts Founded in 1339, the Florence Academy of Fine Arts is a world-renowned art institution. Together with the Paris Academy of Fine Arts, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the St. Petersburg Repin Academy of Fine Arts, they are known as the four major art academies that have made great contributions to world art and have far-reaching influence. Titian, Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Agni, Dante, Vasari (who was also the first Rector) were all its alumni. Art Museum Collection The most famous exhibit in the Accademia Art Museum is Michelangelo's David statue. In addition, you can see its replicas in all the squares or exhibition halls in the streets and alleys of Florence. The statue of David was originally placed on the municipal square, but the man was so popular that the school had to move it indoors to protect him. In addition to the David statue, other exquisite works by Michelangelo are also displayed here. You can also see important paintings by many well-known alumni, as well as modern and modern student works. The Accademia Gallery is an integrated place of European painting art, with a collection of works by the Venetian Tuscan painters from the 14th to the 18th centuries, such as Giorgione, Giovanni and Bellini. In addition, there are masterpieces of Italian art such as Titian's unfinished "Portrait of the Virgin of the Lamentation of Jesus".

Day 1 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Academy Of Florence Art Gallery? Dimora Palanca is one of your top choices.

Dimora Palanca

The Dimora Palanca provides a great place for travelers to relax after a busy day. The Dimora Palanca offers a pleasant stay in Florence for those traveling for business or leisure.

The hotel is only 400m from Leopolda Station and 4km from Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" Airport, giving guests a number of convenient transportation options. Famous local attractions Parrocchia di Santa Lucia sul Prato, Floating Flo and St. James' Episcopal Church, can all be reached with a short walk.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. This Florence hotel provides parking on site.

There's never a dull moment at this hotel, our guests indicate that the facilities are excellent.

Day 2 | Morning

Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Thu,Sat-Sun,9:00am-7:00pm;Open on Fri,1:30pm-7:00pm

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Florence FI

The Church of the Holy Cross is located in the Holy Cross Square. It is the largest St. Francis Church in the world. Its exquisite architectural structure provides the architectural blueprint for the later European Catholic churches. The Basilica of Santa Croce is also known as "the Pantheon of Italy", where 276 great Italians such as Galileo, Michelangelo, Machievilla and Marconi are buried. The church is also decorated with exquisite masterpieces by many art masters, which can be called the condensed essence of Renaissance architecture and art. The French writer Stendhal once wrote: "Slowly, the Church of the Holy Cross gradually appeared in front of me. My My heart began to feel uneasy... My whole body seemed to lose strength, and every step I took seemed to be about to fall." This is where "Stendhal Syndrome" comes from. Santa Croce was built in 1924 and designed by Florentine architect Arnolfo DiCambio. The Gothic facade seen now was built on the occasion of the centenary of Dante's birth in the 19th century. On the side stands a statue of Dante. Colorful marbles of different shapes adorn the grand façade, and the top of the main entrance has a large satellite pattern designed by Jewish architect Matas.

Day 2 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, you can head to Palazzo Pitti, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Palazzo Pitti

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,Sun,8:15am-6:45pm

Ticket Price: 10 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Piazza de 'Pitti, 1, 50125 Florence FI

Built in the 15th century by the Pitti family, the Palazzo Pitti houses one of the biggest art galleries in Florence. The building itself has housed a number of illustrious personages, including the Medici family, which bought it in the 16th century, Napoleon and the royal house of Italy. However, the king of Italy opened it to the public in 1919, since when it has housed a charming collection of art. Visit the Galleria Palatina to see works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Perugino and Peter Paul Rubens, all masters of Renaissance art. The museum also hosts silver pieces, modern art and a number of temporary exhibitions, which you can see in the White Room, or Sala Bianca.Palazzo Pitti in Florence is a Renaissance palace built by the Pitti family and now consists of the Royal Apartments, Palatine Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Boboli Gardens, Costume Museum, Porcelain Museum and Silver Museum composition. The Pitti Palace is located on the south bank of the Arno River, very close to the Old Bridge and can be reached in about 10 minutes. Palazzo Pitti was originally the residence of the Florentine banker Luca Pitti, later purchased by the Medici family and served as the main residence of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Over the generations, the Pitti Palace has stored a large amount of paintings, jewels and valuable treasures. Later, in the late 18th century, the Pitti Palace was used as the center of Napoleon Bonaparte's power, and the unified new Italian royal family also briefly lived here. The palace and the collection were later donated to the Italian people and opened to the public as the largest art gallery in Florence. From the central courtyard of the palace, you can first access the Royal Apartments on the right. It was a series of rooms that were incredibly ornately furnished and housed, each with a different dominant colour, from teal to deep burgundy, colourful, rich and luxurious. The roofs of many rooms have frescoes painted with myths and legends, where the Medici family lived and entertained guests. Palatine Gallery The Palatine Gallery is located on the left side of the first floor of the Pitti Palace and was originally the residence of the Grand Duke of the Medici. The works of many well-known artists from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods are exhibited here, including Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, etc. Although not as famous as the Uffizi Gallery, for tourists who love Renaissance art, the famous masterpieces in the Pitti Palace are not to be missed. The museum consists of 28 rooms, each room is equipped with a guide book, which introduces the author, theme and brief content of each work in the room. After reading, you can put it back on the shelf. The private collection here is all framed and hung in a lavishly designed palace from the 17th century, and the paintings echo the background, which is also a visual feast. The exhibits here are not classified according to the artist or the age of the works like other art galleries, but try to retain the original style. Therefore, when visiting, you will find that there may not be many rules to follow, and the works of the same artist may be scattered in different rooms. It is said that there are a total of 11 original Raphael works in the collection, mainly small portraits. Raphael is known for being good at painting the Virgin, and here is his classic "The Virgin in the Chair". The prototype of "Girl in a Shawl" is Raphael's lover. This painting can be called Raphael's version of "Mona Lisa". The girl in the painting is dressed in a luxurious dress and white gauze, revealing a mysterious Smile. Caravaggio's works can also be found in galleries, and these paintings once again prove his good use of light and shadow. If Raphael is the representative of the Renaissance, Caravaggio is the representative of the Baroque period. His life is full of legends, his personality is bright and flamboyant, and he is always on the run. "Sleeping Cupid" and "Tooth Puller" are his works on the run. Botticelli's "Simonetta the Beautiful", Titian's "Philip II of Spain", and Rubens' "Four Philosophers" are all exhibited here. After visiting the Palatine Museum of Modern Art, you can go straight to the Modern Art Museum on the second floor. It used to be the library of the Medici family in the Pitti Palace. Now it shows Italy from the 19th century to before the First World War. Art works, the exhibits are mainly paintings, and there are also a few sculptures. In order to facilitate the interpretation of the audience, works with the same theme will be grouped. As soon as I entered the door, I saw a neoclassical work. The representative of the sculpture was "The Abandoned Psyche" created by the neoclassical sculptor Pietro. Psyche's head drooped slightly, and his eyes revealed sadness. The sad scene when she was abandoned by Cupid. One of the more representative paintings is "The Duke of Athens Expelled from Florence" by Stefano. The painting depicts Gualtieri, Duke of Athens, being driven away by the Florentines in 1343. Boboli Garden If you choose Boboli Garden, you can go to the silverware museum on the first floor first. Although the name is Silverware Museum, it actually displays treasures of various materials, including various amber, ivory and hard stone pieces collected by the Medici family. For example, the crown produced by Cartier in 1900 contains amethyst and diamonds. and platinum. Then visit the Costume Exhibition Hall, which displays thousands of costumes and jewelry from the 16th century to the 20th century. It is also a museum in Italy that displays fashion in different periods. Exhibits rotate every 2-3 years. The museum is also a constantly updated museum, and many private collectors also donate their collections to the museum. In the corridors of the Pitti Palace, you can see the Boboli Gardens behind the palace through the windows. The Boboli Garden is a world-renowned ancient Roman-style gardening garden. In the early 14th century, the Boboli Gardens was the private courtyard of the Medici family, where they held grand musical parties during festivals. After the purchase of the garden by Cosimo I and his wife, it has been renovated and expanded many times over the generations to get what it is today. There are many sculptures in the garden, like an open-air museum. The amphitheater goes up the stone steps, first to the amphitheatre. The Egyptian obelisk standing in the middle of the theater and the Roman stone basin in front of it were moved from the Medici Villa in Rome. The surrounding stands are decorated with different statues. That year, the Medici family held a grand performance here. Walking down the steps to the end, you can see Sebastian Salvini's work "Goddess of Harvest". The goddess holds gilded ears of wheat in her hands, blessing the farmers with good harvests and blessings for the rulers here. From an elevated position at the southern end of the garden, there is a splendid panorama of the palace as well as views of the Florentine countryside. A vast Tuscan pastoral scenery is presented in front of your eyes, making people sigh that the garden designers have combined artificial and natural so beautifully. If you don't enter the garden at the Pitti Palace, you can only say that you have missed the natural beauty of Florence. There is a small house on the top platform. It used to be the place where the owner rested on the mountain. Now it is a porcelain museum. There are many fine china from the East in the museum.

Day 2 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Villa Cora is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Villa Cora

Villa Cora is a 19th-century building surrounded by a park with outdoor swimming pool. Just 2 km from the centre of Florence and Santa Maria Novella Train Station, it offers free parking. Wi-Fi is also free. All the air-conditioned rooms at Villa Cora are decorated in classical style with antique furniture. They feature a minibar and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The wellness area includes a sauna and a Turkish bath, along with a fitness centre. Massages and beauty treatments are also available. The hotel’s restaurant serves Italian cuisine and dishes and wines from Tuscany. Drinks and hot and cold snacks are available from the bar. Villa Cora is a 20-minute walk from the Uffizi Gallery. The bus stop 400 metres away provides links with the city centre in 10 minutes.

Day 3 | Morning

Palazzo Vecchio

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Wed,Fri-Sun,9:00am-7:00pm;Open on Thu,9:00am-2:00pm

Ticket Price: 12.5 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Piazza della Signoria, Florence Italy

Palazzo Vecchio, also known as Palazzo Vecchio, is located in the Plaza Mayor and was the town hall of the Florentine Republic in the past. The entrance to the building is decorated with the city coat of arms and a replica of Michelangelo's famous sculpture "David". The 16th-century Salon dei Cinquecento (Salonedei Cinquecento) on the second floor of the building used to be the meeting room of the Florentine Republic. It was decorated with Bazzari paintings. The 13th-century Salon dei Duecento (SalonedeiDuecento) on the third floor was decorated with exquisite domes and woven maps of Florence at that time. The tapestries (made in the 16th century) are of artistic value. Climb to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of the whole of Florence.

Reviews from Real Guests:

ChinaMexGirl: Great places for pictures! There were 2 couples taking wedding pictures all around the plaza. Make sure to do some research beforehand for places.to eat since there are so many to choose from.

Day 3 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Palazzo Vecchio, House of Dante next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

House of Dante

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Via Santa Margherita 1, Florence Italy

Dante is a great poet in the early years of the Italian Renaissance, famous for his masterpieces "The Divine Comedy" and "The New Life". Its old house is located in an alley in the ancient city of Florence. The medieval tower houses are ordinary and inconspicuous, and have now been converted into museums. There is a museum in Dante's former residence, which is divided into three floors, showing Dante's life, displaying some of Dante's works, family picture albums, and Dante's family scenes at that time.

Day 3 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Palazzo Vecchietti - Residenza d'Epoca is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Palazzo Vecchietti - Residenza d'Epoca

This city hotel is housed in a historical palace called Palazzo Vecchietti, just steps away from Piazza della Repubblica, in the heart of Florence's historical and shopping district. Attractions such as the Galleria Accademia, the Galleria degli Uffizi and the Duomo are all located within 10 minutes' walk of the hotel. Florence Airport is just 4 km away, while Pisa International Airport lies some 80 km from the accommodation.Comprising of 14 rooms in total, this historical hotel is elegant and cosy with a relaxing and warm atmosphere. With complete luxury and personalised service, this hotel really feels like a home away from home. Fully air-conditioned, it welcomes guests into a lobby with a 24-hour reception and check-out service and lift access, and there is a breakfast room where guests will enjoy starting their day. Room and laundry services are also offered and those arriving by vehicle can make use of the garage parking (fees apply).The rooms all come equipped with double beds, a direct dial telephone, complimentary wireless Internet access, satellite and pay-per-view TV, a radio, safety deposit box, minibar and a kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator, dishwasher, electric cooker with ventilation hood, Nespresso coffee machine with pods, utensils and crockery. The en suite bathrooms have been fitted with a shower, bath and hairdryer, and all rooms also feature individually regulated air conditioning with climate control. Children's cots are available upon request.A continental breakfast buffet is served at this establishment.By car from the motorway A1 exit to Firenze Certosa: follow the signs to the town centre until Porta Romana. Drive along Via Romana and Via Maggio and go on into Via Tornabuoni until Piazza Antinori. Then turn right in Via degli Agli and turn right again in Via de' Vecchietti. Then carry straight on for about 200 m and the hotel will be on the left-hand side.

Day 4 | Morning

The Boboli Gardens

Opening Hours: Boboli Garden + Costume Museum + Silver Museum + Porcelain Museum + Baldini Garden: November - February 8:15-16:30, March 8:15-17:30, April, May , September, October 8:15-18:30, June, July, August 8:15-18:50, stop the entrance 1 hour before closing, the first and last Monday of each month, 1 On the 1st of May, May 1st and December 25th, the opening hours are often changed. It is best to check the official website before you travel.

Ticket Price: 10 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Piazza Pitti, 1, 50125 Florence FI, Italy

The Boboli Gardens, located in the Pitti Palace, are classic ancient Roman gardens. Designed and built by the famous designer Tribolo in 1565, it was the private courtyard of the famous Medici family at that time. Every grand festival, the Medici family will hold a grand and gorgeous party in the garden. The Boboli Garden is built against the slopes and hills behind the Pitti Palace. Its unique geographical location makes it different from most European gardens, which pay attention to neatness and symmetry. On the left, garden paths, fountains, beautiful sculptures and caves are arranged according to the travel route. This Italian-style court garden design and layout has also become the blueprint for many European court garden designs. Walking along the trails is like reliving the luxurious outdoor life in the palace back then. When you reach the Belvedere Fortress on the top of the mountain, you can overlook the red dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and have a panoramic view of the entire city of Florence. In June 2013, the Boboli Gardens and 13 other gardens and villas of the Medici family were added to the World Heritage List.

Day 4 | Afternoon

The Baptistery of St. John nearby is the top choice before you leave The Boboli Gardens and hit the road.

The Baptistery of St. John

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Thu,Sun,12:00am-7:00pm

Ticket Price: 15 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Piazza San Giovanni, Florence Italy

St. John's Baptistery is a baptismal church under the jurisdiction of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Hundred Flowers. There are entrances and exits on three sides due to the south, due north and due east, and the other five sides are closed. Among them, the relief panels of the east gate are all gilded, designed and cast by Lorenzo Ghiberti, which is called "Heaven's Gate" by Michelangelo, and is worth seeing. The Baptistery is a very old building in Florence, consecrated in the 11th century. Its architectural shape imitates the baptistery of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Its architectural style belongs to the Romanesque style, but the specific construction time is doubtful, it is said to be from 1059 to 1128.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.